Counseling Specialties

Intimacy Disorders

When the desire and pursuit of romantic or sexual fulfillment becomes all-consuming, it is a sign that perhaps we are trying to fill another emotional need. By understanding the role of family of origin, trauma and neglect, and our self-image, we’ll uncover how your past impacts your relationship choices.

  • Behaviors are compulsive when the urges to act out feel uncontrollable and we continue to use behaviors despite having experienced negative consequences.

    Examples include frequently engaging in casual or risky sexual behaviors, being sexual in order to get or to maintain a connection with someone or escaping into a fantasy landscape with pornography or other online relationships.

  • No one chooses to be in a toxic relationship. The emotional intensity of these relationships feels good initially, so good that we can ignore behavior such as gaslighting, manipulation, possessiveness, and disregard for personal boundaries.

  • When we fear losing important relationships, it can be easy to ignore our own needs. Keeping healthy emotional boundaries in our lives is imperative to managing our mental health.

Disordered Eating & Eating Disorders

Body judgments, weight stigma and disordered eating behaviors are ingrained in society and very difficult to avoid. The influence of media, pressures from peer and family relationships and the need for acceptance and belonging can reinforce the physical, emotional and mental consequences of disordered eating.

  • Unrealistic beauty standards, nutrition misinformation and diet culture promoted online and in media contribute to body dissatisfaction, perpetuating a cycle of disordered eating behaviors.

    Examples of disordered eating include anxiety associated with specific foods or meal-skipping , chronic weight fluctuations, rigid rituals and routines surrounding food and exercise, feelings of guilt and shame associated with eating and a preoccupation with food, weight and body image that negatively impacts quality of life

  • Chronic dieting, exacerbated by pervasive social media, advertising, and diet culture, can intensify the negative effects on mental health.

  • Deciding to pursue bariatric surgery is a deeply personal and difficult decision. In addition to navigating the physical challenges associated with bariatric surgery, many people struggle with the change in interpersonal relationships, learning to cope with difficult emotions without using food and managing changes in body image.

  • We’ll learn how your body image has developed over time, how it is (and is not) serving you, and ultimately work towards having body respect that is not connected to your body size, shape, or weight (or height, ability, ethnicity, gender...you get it)

Work & Financial Disorders

Our beliefs regarding money and work are formed early in our lives. These beliefs, or “scripts” influence how and why we spend and save money. Because these beliefs are hard-wired, we may not realize behaviors are problematic until the consequences escalate.

  • Shopping or spending to manage difficult emotions can manifest it many ways. Examples include excessive spending to maintain a specific appearance or attain a certain status

  • Finances play a complicated role in many our interpersonal relationships. Poor boundaries, enabling behaviors and feelings of entitlement can ultimately damage important relationships and negatively impact our own financial future

  • Financial avoidance describes a fear or addressing financial matters in our lives. This can include avoidance of looking at and paying bills, proscrastinating on making important financial decisions, or allowing others to manage financial decisions.